A MUSIC CENTRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1318, 22 December 1911, Page 3

A MUSIC CENTRE.

♦ : CHAS. BEGG AND CO.'S NEW PREMISES. Ifessrs. Begg and Co.'s new and hand.°omo premises in Manners Street, which are to be formally opened to-day, set a now standard in music warehouses for New Zealand. Hight in the heart of tho busiest part of Wellington this enterprising firm has eroded a large three-story, brick and steel frame building, having a frontage of IJS feet to Manners Street by a depth of 119 feet, while there is a commodious three-story annexe UOft. bv 60ft.) winch connects tho main building with bt. Hill Street. The extensive show windows and high cantilever verandah gi\e an air of distinction to the exterior of the building— ,111 air, indeed, that is characteristic of the whole of the premises, which arc admirably designed for the purpose they havo to serve. The ground floor consists of n munificent saleroom—a well-lighted, lofty apartment, "with counters running down either side and walls pigeon-holed for sheet music. There is also a handsome show-stand occupying a central position, and displaying a variety of Boston's brass insirnments. Above the counter is a mezzanine floor running (ho full length, and across the front of the shop, on which is liept the wholesale stock of sheet music. There is also a special room on the ground floor for the displav of gramaphones and the trial of records-. The offices and counting-houss extend across the back of the ground flat. Ascending-"a broad flight of stairs, the balustrading of which is built of picked riimi, one is ushered to a large and airv piano and organ showroom, well filled Villi a wide variety of instruments.. * It is this floor that the firm intends to provide a little recital which will sunt about 130 people. This will be convenient for small chamber concerts, or for a teacher who wishes to display tho vocal or. instrumental proficiency of a pupil to a few friends and thoss interested in the culture of music. On the same floor there are some half-dozen handv-sized rooms for music-teachers. Ascending still another flight is the wholesale store, where all manner of goods are packed and unpacked with ease and facility. A twoton elcctric goods-elevator is a handy factor in that regard. It is the intention of the firm to open the n?.w warehouse this afternoon. An orchestra will play a number of selections, and there will be numbers played oil a fino pipe organ, included in the firm's big stock. People are invited fre?ly to inspect the building—from top to bottom. The new building, which cries shamo op its immediate neighbours, was desisted bv Mr. U. V. nldron. and was erected bv Messrs. Jas. M'Gill and Sons.